Before the Summoning, Annan did three things.
First, he summoned the scowling Mr. Swaro.
Second, he called Illymoyas down to the roof and had her poke her head through the window.
Third, he opened the Portal to the elementals' quarters, bringing forth fifty Earth Elementals and fifty Water Elementals.
Feeling safer, Annan gripped the Teleportation Pendant. Under Illymoyas's and Mr. Swaro's watchful eyes, he cast the Lesser Summoning Spell in the living room packed with Large Elementals.
No summoning circle appeared. A Portal took its place, and on the other side appeared the coarse bristles and scarlet eyes he knew from his nightmares.
Before the Ratfolk could react and close the Portal, Annan sent an instant high-level Arcane Missile through it and into the head of a stunned Brute Rat.
"Elementals, attack!"
Realizing this was the perfect chance to gain a foothold in the Royal Capital and rescue the head of the Barros family, Annan gave the elementals their orders.
But the Ratfolk had already reacted and were crowding the Portal.
"Move!"
A deep dragon roar rang out. A thick bolt of lightning crossed dozens of yards, plunged through the Portal, and spread through the packed Rat Swarm.
The violent current paralyzed them before its intense heat burned them to charcoal. Lightning flickered across the Water Elementals as the Earth Elementals sheathed themselves in stone armor. Like squat Dwarf giants, they charged through the Portal and trampled the Ratfolk into charred fragments.
The elementals pushed the battle line beyond the Portal, giving Annan a glimpse of a magnificent hall, brilliant stained-glass windows, and a God Statue with outstretched hands and a compassionate expression.
*A Church?
The thought had barely crossed Annan's mind when a side door burst open. Armored Elite Ratfolk clashed with the Large Elementals. The tiled floor cracked,